Changes in biting forces with implant-supported overdenture in the lower jaw: A comparison between conventional and mini implants in a pilot study.

The biting ability of patients improves noticeably after receiving implant-supported overdentures in comparison to conventional complete dentures. However, the change of biting with such treatment concepts has been quantitatively investigated in only a limited number of studies. The aim of the present study has been to measure the biting forces of edentulous patients with complete dentures and after receiving implant-supported overdentures. A total of 26 edentulous patients were included. Ten patients received two to four conventional implants (control group, O3.3-3.7mm, L11-13mm) and 16 patients received four to five mini implants (study group, O1.8-2.4mm, L13-15mm) inserted in the mandibular interforaminal region. All patients received a lower overdenture with ball/rubber ring attachments and a complete denture for the maxilla. The biting forces were measured using Prescale pressure sheets type low before the insertion of implants and after receiving implant-supported overdenture. The measured sheets were later scanned and analysed using FPD-8010E software. The range of biting forces before the insertion of implants was 80N-122N for the control group and 66-88N for the study group. After the insertion of implants, the range of biting forces increased to 167N-235N for the control group and to 81N-138N for the study group. However, the increase in biting forces after the insertion of implants was not significant for either group. No significant difference was obtained between the two implant systems. The biting forces improved after insertion of implants regardless of which implant system was used. However, the degree of improvement is noticeably related to the original bone quality of the mandible at the insertion regions of implants.